Bird Cams Around the World

A video of the incident was posted on YouTube.

Thanks vlu. Looks like E8 got knocked off the perch and flew off. Does not appear that he was grabbed by the owl and taken away. He may be hiding out. That poor bird really has taken some hard knocks. He is probably face-planting somewhere. All kidding aside, I do hope he is OK. I seem to recall something similar at Berry last year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't one of the kids fall through some branches and after that bad experience, went missing for a while? I think the youngster was found spending time at the lake. They seem to stay away from a location that imprints a bad experience for them. I would think the parents can be tracked to the bird's location, as they did last year at Berry.

Someone made a slow-motion version of the video

Good point, I don't think they returned to the actual nest at (so they could be seen on cam) during the season.

I agree Nadia! From what the chat moderators have been saying, full grown eagles are way too big for an owl to carry off, and E7 and E8 are fully grown at this point. If there had been a fight between E8 and the intruder there would be feathers on the ground. The areas under the nest and nearby have been searched and nothing has been found.

Yesterday there were two reports of juvenile eagles on the ground. The first one was at a location about 3 miles away from the nest. The person who reported it wasn't sure if the eagle was injured or not. It left the area before wildlife officials could be called. As there are other active eagle nests closer to this location than the Pritchett's nest, it is unlikely the eagle seen there was E8.

The second report is the one from the news reports linked a few posts back. This location is about 1/2 mile from the nest. That report is concerning because the person who saw the eagle thought it had a broken leg. It left the area before wildlife officials arrived. In chat they said that wildlife officials are back again today searching for it. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is E8, though.

No doubt E8 was probably freaked out and ran or flew for safety elsewhere! Look at how E7 has been acting since then -- not flying much and not straying far from the nest tree. And if you look at it from E8's perspective, he/she can't go to the safety of the nest, because the nest is pretty much gone at this point. E7 is still being aggressive toward him at times. E8 could very easily have met up with some other juveniles and decided it was time to disperse.

In any case, I just hope that he's (or she, but I think it's a "he") is ok.

vlu328
I like what you wrote , it makes more sense that it has meet up with other juveniles. We had a juvenile peregrine falcon wonder into the territory next door and in time the parents feed it( it real was the grandparents nest). Nature takes care of its own and we are merely on the side lines watching it go by.

That's funny! I have read about that happening with another peregrine nest. It was in California. The first nest had two juveniles, the second nest had one. The parents at the first nest apparently decided it was time for their juvies to move on, so they drove them out. The next day the second nest had three juveniles! LOL! They say that birds can't count, that's why fostering usually works out so well. Still, I imagine the parents looking at each other saying "I thought we only had 1 child?" "I don't know. I guess we have 3. I'll go get another pigeon."

From Eagleholic (TwizzKid):
"There is no further confirmed info on the whereabouts of E8. Here is what was posted on the Southwest Florida Eaglecam Facebook page:
“There has been a lot of speculation over the last 24 hours about E8’s location, safety & health. Nothing has been confirmed at this time.

We ask all viewers to remember that the SWFEC is intended to be an opportunity for passive observation into the world of nesting bald eagles. While we appreciate and share everyone’s concern, please do not engage in activities at or near the nest that could interfere with or disturb the eagles.

We all hope for E8’s safe return. Viewers can support this outcome by continuing to watch the cameras at home rather than congregating near the nest. Any confirmed information about E8 will be shared with our viewers as soon as it is available.

As always, any observation of an injured bald eagle should be reported to the closest permitted and licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility (CROW – Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc.) by calling 239-472-3644.”

The nest gets smaller and smaller...

Thanks Ioza. Nice pics. Wow...the nest is completely gone. Glad this did not happen when the eggs were laid or when chicks were very young. What a disaster that would have been. The timing couldn't have been better.

3:00 email from Eagleholic - Twizz Kid:
"Wow! Here is what CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) is reporting on their Facebook page – there are some photos in the their posting here: https://www.facebook.com/CROWClinic/

Forum won't leg me post the entire announcement from Eagleholic... but very briefly,
E8 has been found - broken leg, critical condition.

https://eagleholic.wordpress.com/2016/0 ... e-at-crow/

so happy she was found. let us hope for the best possible recovery

Here are the early news reports, I think (as Bev said) the lady who first saw an injured eagle, DID see E8. Poor thing...